Do you want a story telling device game where no matter what you do, you repeat history exactly as it’s recorded by historians? Or do you want for example slavery to be an option so you can immediately avoid it? In the latter example, of course the game wouldn’t be historic and the authors of the game would need to build in these non-canonical alternatives and fictions.

I don’t disagree with you wholly because I think a video game that didn’t have slavery as a subject but did educate about it in this kind of way would be very effective at for example teaching kids and adults about things like Juneteenth or the only coup to ever happen on US soil. But unless the game is on rails, the historical facts will always be just one of the possible choices.

"But unless the game is on rails, the historical facts will always be just one of the possible choices"

Sure. Thats why I am talking about the general setting. I start at a time, which I like to be somewhat historical correct. And from there it is free playing. Otherwise those strategygames would not be possible.

So in the example of collonization, there definitely should be the option of slaves, as it was done. But there should also be the option of avoiding it. Basically, playing nice, without the game mechanics pushing you to be a slaver. (I do not remember how it was actually implemented)

But I would not mind the game to be harder playing it nice. Which is probably more to historical truth.